Patents by Inventor Joel R. Frerichs

Joel R. Frerichs has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220193967
    Abstract: A coinjection molded multi-layer container includes an inner layer, an outer layer, and a barrier layer. The inner layer includes a first polymeric material and forms an inside surface of the container. The outer layer includes the first polymeric material and forms an outside surface of the container. The barrier layer is located between the inner layer and the outer layer and includes a second polymeric material less permeable to gas than the first polymeric material. The barrier layer is biased toward the inside surface or the outside surface such that the inner layer and the outer layer have different thicknesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Joel R. Frerichs, Brian Elflein, Joshua J. Eastman
  • Patent number: 11298861
    Abstract: A coinjection molded multi-layer container includes an inner layer, an outer layer, and a barrier layer. The inner layer includes a first polymeric material and forms an inside surface of the container. The outer layer includes the first polymeric material and forms an outside surface of the container. The barrier layer is located between the inner layer and the outer layer and includes a second polymeric material less permeable to gas than the first polymeric material. The barrier layer is biased toward the inside surface or the outside surface such that the inner layer and the outer layer have different thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Silgan Specialty Packaging LLC
    Inventors: Joel R. Frerichs, Brian W. Elflein, Joshua J. Eastman
  • Publication number: 20210039292
    Abstract: A system for coinjection molding a multi-layer container includes an injection molding apparatus, a camera, and a controller. The injection molding apparatus is configured to coinject a plurality of polymeric materials into a mold cavity to form a multi-layer container including an inner layer, an outer layer, and a barrier layer located between the inner layer and the outer layer. The camera is configured to capture an image indicating a location of the barrier layer within the multi-layer container. The controller is configured to monitor the location of the barrier layer using the image captured by the camera, compare the location of the barrier layer to a threshold location, and provide a control signal to the injection molding apparatus based on the location of the barrier layer relative to the threshold location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: Gateway Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel R. Frerichs, Brian W. Elflein, Joshua J. Eastman
  • Patent number: 10843395
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an injection molded container includes operating an injection molding apparatus to inject one or more polymeric materials into a mold cavity to form a container. The container includes an energy director ring protruding from an inside surface of the container and extending circumferentially along the inside surface. The method includes welding a filter onto the inside surface by applying a welding force to the inside surface. The energy director ring causes the welding force to be concentrated at a location of the energy director ring, thereby forming a circumferential weld that secures the filter to the inside surface the location of the energy director ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Gateway Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel R. Frerichs, Brian W. Elflein, Joshua J. Eastman
  • Publication number: 20200094457
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an injection molded container includes operating an injection molding apparatus to inject one or more polymeric materials into a mold cavity to form a container. The container includes an energy director ring protruding from an inside surface of the container and extending circumferentially along the inside surface. The method includes welding a filter onto the inside surface by applying a welding force to the inside surface. The energy director ring causes the welding force to be concentrated at a location of the energy director ring, thereby forming a circumferential weld that secures the filter to the inside surface the location of the energy director ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Gateway Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel R. Frerichs, Brian W. Elflein, Joshua J. Eastman
  • Publication number: 20190152105
    Abstract: A coinjection molded multi-layer container includes an inner layer, an outer layer, and a barrier layer. The inner layer includes a first polymeric material and forms an inside surface of the container. The outer layer includes the first polymeric material and forms an outside surface of the container. The barrier layer is located between the inner layer and the outer layer and includes a second polymeric material less permeable to gas than the first polymeric material. The barrier layer is biased toward the inside surface or the outside surface such that the inner layer and the outer layer have different thicknesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Joel R. Frerichs, Brian W. Elflein, Joshua J. Eastman